APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 



235 



might be deemed necessary for our 

 combined efforts. 



So soon as the army moved for- 

 ward I hoisted my flag in the Sur- 

 prise, and with the remainder of 

 the frigates, bombs, sloops, and the 

 rocket ship, passed further up the 

 river, to render what co-operation 

 could be found practicable. 



While the bomb vessels were 

 working up, in order that we might 

 open our tire upon the enemy's 

 fort at day-break next morning, an 

 account was brought to me, that 

 Major-General Ross, when recon- 

 noitring the enemy, had received 

 a mortal wound by a musket ball, 

 which closed his glorious career 

 before he could be brought off to 

 the ship. 



It is a tribute due to the memory 

 of this gallant and respected Offi- 

 cer, to pause in my relation, while 

 1 lament the loss that his Majesty's 

 service and the army, of which he 

 was one of the brightest ornaments, 

 have sustained by his death. The 

 unanimity, the zeal which he ma- 

 nifested on every occasion, while 

 I had the honour of serving with 

 him, gave life and ease to the most 

 arduous undertakings. Too heed- 

 less of his personal security when 

 in the field, his devotion to the 

 care and honour of his army has 

 caused the termination of his va- 

 luable life. The 3Iajor General 

 has left a wife and family, for 

 whom I am confident his grateful 

 country will provide. 



The skirmish which has de- 

 prived the army of its brave Gene- 

 ral was a prelude to a most decisive 

 victory over the flower of the ene- 

 my's troops. Colonel Brook, on 

 whom the command devolved, hav- 

 ing pushed forward our force to 

 ivithiu five miles of Baltimore, 



where the enemy, about 6 or 7,000, 

 had taken up an advanced position, 

 strengthened by field pieces, and 

 where he had disposed himself 

 apparently with the intention of 

 making a determined resistance, 

 i'ell upon the enemy with such im- 

 petuositj', that he was obliged soon 

 to give way, and fly in every direc- 

 tion, leaving on the field of battle 

 a considerable number of killed 

 and wounded, and i,vo pieces of 

 cannon. 



For the particulars of this bril- 

 liant affair, I beg leave to refer 

 their Lordships to Rear Admiral 

 Cockburn's dispatch, transmitted 

 herewith. 



At day-break the next morning, 

 the bombs having taken their sta- 

 tions v/ithin shell range, supported 

 by the Surprise, with the other 

 frigates and sloops, opened their 

 fire upon the fort that protected the 

 entrance of the harbour, and I had 

 now an opportunity of observing 

 the strength and preparations of 

 the enemy. 



The approach to the town on 

 the land side was defended by 

 commanding heights, upon which 

 was constructed a chain of redoubts, 

 connected by a breast work, with 

 a ditch in front, an extensive train 

 of artillery, and a show of force 

 that was reported to be from 15 to 

 20,000 men. 



The entrance by sea, within 

 which the town is retired nearly 

 three miles, was entirely obscured 

 by a barrier of vessels sunk at the 

 mouth of the harbour, defended in- 

 side by gun boats, flanked on the 

 right by a strong and regular forti- 

 fication, and on the left by a bat- 

 tery of several heavy guns. 



These preparations rendering it 

 impracticable to afford any cssen- 



